Preparation and Characterization of Ba and Nb Substituted SrBi2Ta2O9 Compounds

Abstract

AbstractBi-layered ferroelectric compounds are considered most promising for non-volatile memory applications due to their high fatigue endurance. We have prepared SrBi2Ta2O9 powders with Ba (A sites) and Nb (B sites) substitutions using a novel solution based route. The powders were pressed and sintered at 1050°C to obtain high quality targets. Thin films were prepared using these ceramic targets on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The effects of growth conditions on phase formation as well as structural and electrical properties in films are studied. Initial results on films show good hysteretic characteristics. Though phase formation begins at much lower temperature, these films crystallize in a complete layered perovskite phase when prepared at 700°C. Optical phonon modes in these materials exhibit systematic variations with changing compositions. The changes in the Raman spectra are explained in terms of Ba and Nb substitutions at A and B sites, respectively. The temperature dependence of Raman spectra exhibits the substitution induced changes in the transition temperatures of these materials.